The Benefits of Pollock or Salmon Oil for Cats and Dogs

From Salmon to Pollock and Salmon Oil

Supplements |  January 10, 2026

Mud Bay Pollock and Salmon Oil

Made from wild Alaskan salmon and pollock harvested from a Marine Stewardship Council certified fishery by Alaska Naturals in Bellingham, Washington.

You can buy a 15.5-ounce bottle of salmon and pollock oil or a 32-ounce bottle of salmon and pollock oil for dogs or cats at our online store.

Muddies have often recommended salmon oil as a supplement for dogs and cats. This type of fish oil is packed with healthy omega-3s that have proven benefits to the brain, skin and overall well-being of your pets. These days there are a wide variety of fish oils available specifically for the canines and felines of the household.

In October of 2020, Mud Bay transitioned from a pure salmon oil to a combined pollock and salmon oil product. Mud Bay sources its salmon oil exclusively from Alaskan wild caught salmon fisheries, which are the most heavily regulated and sustainable salmon fisheries in the world. Fishing is limited to a six week harvesting season to ensure that salmon populations stay healthy. In 2020 and 2021 the harvested salmon was too small to sustain a pure salmon oil product.

Pollock oil has many similar properties to salmon oil, particularly its high levels of the omega-3 fatty acid EPA, which is highly supportive of skin and coat health and reduces inflammation throughout the body. The omega-3 and -6 ratios of pollock oil are among the highest in natural fish oils, just below that of salmon oil but in a much more sustainable and cost-effective fish. Unfortunately pollock oil can’t simply replace salmon oil because it has very little DHA, which is the omega-3 fatty acid that supports brain and eye health and development and is especially good for puppies, kittens and senior pets. But when we combine it with the ultra-high DHA levels of salmon oil, our pollock and salmon oil blend can continue to be a potent and versatile supplement choice while reducing the pressure on the salmon fisheries.

To find out more about the benefits of both pollock and salmon oils, we sat down with category manager Cherish Morrison. As a Muddy with nearly eighteen years of experience overseeing different Mud Bay merchandise categories, Cherish knows a lot about the supplements that help dogs and cats stay healthy.

MB: What are the primary benefits of including pollock and salmon oil in your cat or dog’s diet?

CM: Pollock and salmon oils both contain high levels of omega-3s. These are longer chain fatty acids that can help with skin and coat health as well as with reducing overall inflammation. Both people and pets tend to eat foods that have a lot of omega-6s, so adding omega-3s can help bring your pet’s diet into balance.

Reducing inflammation supports pets with arthritis and hip and joint mobility. For older dogs and cats, pollock and salmon oil is a really good diet addition to keep them more active, which can also contribute to a healthier weight by supporting better mobility. Giving older pets pollock and salmon oil can also help keep their cognitive function high.

Adding a fish oil supplement also helps create a healthier skin and coat, which is another prevention tool for fleas. Fish oil won’t help you get rid of a flea outbreak, but healthy skin can help prevent initial infestation. There’s even anecdotal evidence that some fish oils can help reduce shedding in dogs and cats.

If you have a puppy or kitten, it’s a really good time to give them pollock and salmon oil. Studies show that the DHA levels in salmon oil can help with brain and eye health for puppies and kittens. Kittens and puppies who get the higher levels of DHA in develop faster, have better memory retention, and react faster.

Salmon jumping upstream to spawn

Alaskan pollock

Salmon leaping upriver

Swimming Alaskan salmon

MB: So, if you decide to incorporate fish oil into your dog or cat’s diet—how do you go about doing that?

CM: Most dogs and cats won’t have any problems adding it immediately to their diet. If there is going to be an issue, it’s most likely to be with a cat. But often, if a cat is already familiar with fish-based formulas, then you can introduce it easily. Even if it’s a fish species that they haven’t had, they’ll normally accept it. Just start by introducing the salmon oil as a single drop or two with every meal. Then you can slowly increase it over time.

If your cat isn’t a fish eater, it may be more challenging to introduce fish oil. Try the one-drop-per-meal approach, or another trick is to put the oil on their paws so they can lick it off. Most cats won’t avoid it because cats like to clean and groom. So, lots of cats will consume fish oil that way.

Sometimes oil that has rosemary extract—which is used as a natural preservative in some oils—is less well received by cats. Most cats don’t like rosemary, which is why we don’t use it in our oil. But just looking for a fish oil supplement that doesn’t have rosemary can be useful.

Dogs are way less likely to reject any fish oil. But if they do, try squirting it on a favorite treat. That way they’re not focused on the oil, they’re focused on the treat.

Cat gazing at a panting black and white dog

Cherish Morrison is Mud Bay’s first private label category manager. She spends her days thinking of new products to delight our customers and then works to make those dreams into a reality. She launched Mud Bay’s salmon oil in December 2017.

🌞 🎆 🎉 Summer brings celebrations, late nights, travel and events that can leave your pets feeling uneasy.
🐈 🐕
Mud Bay is here to help, offering products that bring calm and comfort to your cat or dog when things get noisy.
🐈 🐕
We carry calming collars, tinctures, treats, and pheromones to help your pets handle everything summer brings—Shop Mud Bay in-store or online to find the right calmatives for your pets.
#mudbay #summer #keepcalm #healthypets #calming

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🌞 🎆 🎉 Summer brings celebrations, late nights, travel and events that can leave your pets feeling uneasy. 🐈 🐕 Mud Bay is here to help, offering products that bring calm and comfort to your cat or dog when things get noisy. 🐈 🐕 We carry calming collars, tinctures, treats, and pheromones to help your pets handle everything summer brings—Shop Mud Bay in-store or online to find the right calmatives for your pets. #mudbay #summer #keepcalm #healthypets #calming

Fluff & Tuff`s #IGIVEAFLUFF is Coming Soon!
🐾
Starting June 8th, National Best Friends Day, our friends at Fluff & Tuff are once again kicking off #IGiveAFluff to help put toys in the paws of shelter and rescue dogs who need them most.
🐾
And we want you to be a part of it, and it couldn`t be easier to participate!
Here`s how it works:
📸 Snap a photo of your dog with their favorite Fluff & Tuff toy.
📱 Share it on social media using #IGiveAFluff.
🐾 Fluff & Tuff donates a toy to a shelter or rescue dog.
🐾
Since 2015, with the support of pet parents like you and the generosity of Fluff & Tuff, over 22,000 toys have been donated to shelters and rescue dogs. Want to participate, but you need a Fluff & Tuff toy? Take a tip from Frank and stop by your local Mud Bay or visit us online. Click the link in our bio to learn more about #IGIVEAFLUFF

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Fluff & Tuff's #IGIVEAFLUFF is Coming Soon! 🐾 Starting June 8th, National Best Friends Day, our friends at Fluff & Tuff are once again kicking off #IGiveAFluff to help put toys in the paws of shelter and rescue dogs who need them most. 🐾 And we want you to be a part of it, and it couldn't be easier to participate! Here's how it works: 📸 Snap a photo of your dog with their favorite Fluff & Tuff toy. 📱 Share it on social media using #IGiveAFluff. 🐾 Fluff & Tuff donates a toy to a shelter or rescue dog. 🐾 Since 2015, with the support of pet parents like you and the generosity of Fluff & Tuff, over 22,000 toys have been donated to shelters and rescue dogs. Want to participate, but you need a Fluff & Tuff toy? Take a tip from Frank and stop by your local Mud Bay or visit us online. Click the link in our bio to learn more about #IGIVEAFLUFF

Summer is coming, so be like Goose 🐕 and stay cool 😎 ❄️ on every outing with the Swamp Cooler Harness from Ruffwear.
🧊
Whether she’s out on a trail or enjoying a long walk or run, this harness is built for warm-weather adventures, offering cooling comfort and secure control in one breathable design.
🌞
Shop in-store or online at Mud Bay.
#mudbay #adventures #pnw #dog #summeriscoming

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Summer is coming, so be like Goose 🐕 and stay cool 😎 ❄️ on every outing with the Swamp Cooler Harness from Ruffwear. 🧊 Whether she’s out on a trail or enjoying a long walk or run, this harness is built for warm-weather adventures, offering cooling comfort and secure control in one breathable design. 🌞 Shop in-store or online at Mud Bay. #mudbay #adventures #pnw #dog #summeriscoming

Mud Bay Memorial Day Hours ⏰
🐈 🐕
Today, Monday, May 25, all Mud Bay locations will be open from 10 am to 6 pm.
🐈 🐕
Delivery orders placed after 2 pm on Sunday will arrive on Tuesday. Store pickup and Instacart will still be available. 🐈 🐕 🚚
#mudbay #holidayhours #healthypets #mudbaydelivery #pets

View Instagram post by mudbay
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Mud Bay Memorial Day Hours ⏰ 🐈 🐕 Today, Monday, May 25, all Mud Bay locations will be open from 10 am to 6 pm. 🐈 🐕 Delivery orders placed after 2 pm on Sunday will arrive on Tuesday. Store pickup and Instacart will still be available. 🐈 🐕 🚚 #mudbay #holidayhours #healthypets #mudbaydelivery #pets